JP2008504955A - Formulation system comprising an injector or cartridge and a mixer - Google Patents

Abstract

  The present invention relates to a system for compounding two components comprising an injector or compounding cartridge and a mixer. This system is arranged so that the edges of the transfer passage outlets 7 and 8 connected to the mixer inlet openings 11 and 12 and the cartridge outlets 9 and 10 at the end of the cartridge allow a vacuum-free exchange of the mixer. Is constructed. The plane of the opening of the adapter outlet or cartridge outlet, or the plane of the opening of the mixer inlet forms an angle with said outlet or inlet, in particular an angle of 90 °. The system of the present invention allows the removal of the mixer without the generation of a vacuum, so that the filling level of the two components is preserved and a new mixer is placed in the injector or cartridge, and then the correct mixing ratio from the beginning. Is possible.

Description

  The present invention relates to a two component compounding assembly including an injector or compounding cartridge and a mixer, such assembly particularly intended for surgical applications.

  Numerous assemblies on the market for dispensing two component ingredients where adhesive or other ingredients are dispensed from two injectors, two cartridges, or similar compounding equipment and mixed by a static mixer Exists. Often, the material is only partially blended until both cartridges are empty, so that the components may cure in the mixer.

  Thus, for continuous operation, the mixer needs to be replaced while the cartridge outlet must be prevented from being clogged with hardened material. Another problem with mixer removal designed by the prior art is that a vacuum is created. As soon as the mixer is separated from the cartridge, the liquid column between the mixer inlet and the cartridge outlet collapses and the vacuum is replaced. However, the separation between the components in the cartridge outlet and the components in the mixer inlet is not accurately determined, and viscosity differences may have a significant impact. When a new mixer is installed in this situation, the two components are not at the same fill level during the compounding operation and may therefore not be mixed in the correct ratio within the first phase. Therefore, to avoid a defective adhesive bond, the initial mixture must not be used.

  For future surgical applications, a rapidly reactive two-component material will be formulated in small amounts during surgery and in several steps. This means that one static mixer is required for each compounding operation because the two components in the mixer cure very quickly. Since the volume to be dispensed is small and in addition the media hardens rapidly after mixing, the result is that the leveling operation is performed after each mixer change, ie the mixture is dispensed until the ratio is correct There is a problem with doing it, so the right ratio should be set from the beginning.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,685 discloses a compounding device comprising a compounding device and a mixer, the purpose of which is to minimize the compressive force acting between the compounding device outlet and the mixer inlet. This solution is such that the outlet on the outlet flange of the compounding device is directed radially inward and the opening of the mixer housing is also arranged radially.

  German Offenlegungsschrift 3,237,353 discloses a mixing device in which the outlets of the two enclosures are arranged radially and the inlet and outlet are sealed by a rotatable sleeve.

  US Pat. No. 4,690,306 discloses an exemplary embodiment in which the outlet is radially connected to the inlet of the mixing device.

  None of the prior art references deal with the leveling problem during mixer replacement, and therefore, against this background of the prior art, there are two components that allow mixer replacement without adversely affecting the equal filling level of the two components. It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly for compounding. This is achieved by the assembly according to claim 1.

  The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings of exemplary embodiments.

  FIG. 1 shows the outlet side of a cartridge 1, adapter 2 and mixer 4 having two enclosures 1 a and 1 b, and FIG. 2 shows a sealing cap 3. The two outlets 9 and 10 of the cartridge lead into the transfer passages 2a and 2b facing the inside of the adapter, and the outlets 7 and 8 of the transfer passage lead to the mixer inlets 11 and 12. In contrast to conventional mixers, in order to ensure that any cross-contamination at the cartridge / mixer interface and thus any hardening during the mixer change is eliminated, the mixer inlets 11 and 12 have two separation chambers 13 and 14 continues. At the end of the separation chamber, a mixing element 5 that is confined in the mixer housing 6 is arranged.

  Here, it is not technically important how the adapter is fixed to the cartridge. In this case, it is a snap-on configuration. If a conventional cartridge with an insertion socket is used, it is also possible to provide the adapter with a corresponding insertion member to secure it to the mixer. However, other fixing methods are possible.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mixer inlet is not arranged facing forward like a normal mixer, and two lateral openings 11 and 12 are provided, and the mixer inlet between the mixer inlet and the end of the mixer inlet is provided. The compartment is conical, while the mixer inlet compartment of FIG. 3 is a cylinder.

  The cavity 15 of the adapter 2 that receives the mixer inlet section is also conical, while the cavity 16 of the adapter 26 of FIG. 3 is cylindrical.

  In FIG. 2, the sealing cap 3 is placed on the adapter, and the transfer passages 2 a and 2 b are effectively sealed by the plug 17 at the sealing cap 3.

  The variant of FIG. 1 shown in FIG. 3 has already been discussed, the difference being that the mixer inlet section is designed to be cylindrical rather than conical. Another difference between the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and the embodiment according to FIG. 3 is that the inlet portion 18 of the mixer housing which is pushed over the adapter engages a bead 19 on the front side of the adapter at its end. The groove 20 is provided.

  To prepare and mix the two components, the sealing cap 3 is removed and the mixer 4 is attached. The mixer is mounted in a radially oriented manner, which orientation is provided by the notch and the corresponding geometry of the nose or adapter and the mixer housing.

  During the mixer exchange, the medium is divided in a vacuum-free manner between the transfer passages 2a and 2b and the mixer inlets 11 and 12. This division occurs as the liquid stream is scraped by the edges of the transfer passage outlet and the mixer inlet. This is so that the outlet of the cartridge and the transfer passage are respectively arranged and perpendicular to the mixer inlet rather than in line with the longitudinal axis of the mixer so that no vacuum is formed when the mixer is retracted. This is due to the gradual reduction of the outlet and inlet opening. In this way, the synchronization of the two components is preserved and it is no longer necessary to have the components at the same height when a new mixer is installed, i.e. immediately without prior material preparation until the correct mixing ratio is achieved. It becomes possible to continue work.

  In the two exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 4 and 5, the transfer passage outlet extends outward. FIG. 4 shows the outlet side of the cartridge 21 with two separate storage containers 21 a and 21 b, the adapter 22 and the mixer 23. Two outlets 24 and 25 of the cartridge lead to adapter transfer passages 22a and 22b, and laterally extending outlets 26 and 27 facing the outside of the transfer passage lead to mixer inlets 28 and 29. This mixer inlet is arranged in a cylindrical part 36 which is arranged in the mixer inlet part.

  The adapter 22 has a circumferential collar 30 at its cartridge end that engages under the plug socket 31 on the outlet compartment 32 to secure the adapter. A circumferential inner bead 34 is provided at the cartridge end of the mixer inlet section 33 and snapped into the groove 35 of the adapter.

  The relatively long inlets 22a, 22b and 40, 41 have the same effect as the separation chambers 13, 14, ie the effect of separating the components as long as possible. The scraping effect in this exemplary embodiment is again that the mixer inlet opening and the transfer passage outlet opening are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mixer and the edges of the outlets 26, 27 of the transfer passages 22a and 22b. Since the part slides past the edges of the mixer inlets 28, 29, it is the same as the effect of the previous embodiment.

  In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, there is no adapter between the cartridge 37 and the mixer 38. The cartridge 37 has an outlet compartment 39 in which two storage containers 37a, 37b and two outlets 40 and 41, which are not spaced apart, are arranged. This outlet leads to a laterally extending outlet passage 40a, 41a, which faces the outside, terminating at the respective outlet passage opening 42, 43.

  The mixer inlet section 44 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis to secure the mixer at the two mixer inlet passages 45, 46 leading to the respective lateral openings 45A, 46A and its cartridge end. Has a circumferential inner bead 47 that snaps into a groove 48 in the outlet compartment. In this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the scraping operation during mixer removal occurs at the openings 45A and 46A of the transfer passage openings 42 and 43 and the mixer inlet passages 45 and 46.

  In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 6-7 having an outwardly directed transfer passage, the liquid is scraped by rotating the mixer relative to the cartridge. The cartridge 49 comprises two storage containers 49a and 49b having respective outlets 50 and 51 in the outlet compartment 52. The outlets are connected to laterally extending transfer passages 53, 54 having outward openings 53A, 54A. The outlet compartment 52 further comprises two plug sockets 55, 56.

  The mixer 57 is provided at its inlet compartment 58 with an insert 59 fixed therein by a cam 60 which engages an internal groove 61 of the housing of the mixer inlet compartment. At the level of the transfer passage opening, the insert 59 has two laterally extending holes 62 and 63 with inlet openings 62a, 63a. Starting from these holes, two recesses that form inlet passages 64, 65 with the mixer housing and connect to the mixing element are arranged on the insert surface facing the mixer outlet. The cartridge side end of the mixer inlet section 58 has two plug cams 66 that cooperate with plug sockets 58 on the cartridge.

  In particular when comparing FIG. 6A with 7A, during mixer removal, the latter must rotate to unscrew the insertion cam from the insertion socket, and the inlet openings 63a, 63a result in a transfer passage opening. Obviously, the latter slides through 53a, 54a and the latter is sealed by the inner wall of the insert so that the mixer retracts without the risk of creating a vacuum in the transfer passage.

  The exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 7 is also provided with a sealing cap that can be secured as disclosed therein, as in the embodiment of FIGS.

  As previously mentioned, the connection method between the mixer and the adapter on the one hand and between the adapter and the cartridge on the other hand is not inventively important and can be snapped, catch, or cone connection. ) And so on. Furthermore, all embodiments can be provided with plugs or connectors such as plugs. However, the inlet and outlet are not in series, i.e. the angle at which the plane of the opening at the outlet of the adapter or cartridge and the plane of the opening at the inlet of the mixer are respectively relative to the longitudinal axis of the outlet and inlet. It is important to form an angle of 90 °, more specifically, and that the inlet and outlet are each arranged generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mixer or cartridge. In this way, when the mixer is retracted, mutual lateral displacement of the passage cross-section results, which allows the mixer to be removed without vacuum without adversely affecting the filling level of the two components. .

  It should also be understood that the volume ratios of the components and the respective cross-sectional ratios of the storage enclosures do not necessarily have to be equal to 1: 1 and can differ from 1: 1. Correspondingly, the outlet and the transfer passage can also have different and suitable cross sections.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an assembly of the present invention with an attached mixer having an inwardly directed transfer passage. FIG. 2 is a view of the assembly of FIG. 1 with a sealing cap. It is a figure of the deformation | transformation form of the Example of FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second assembly of the present invention with an attached mixer having an outwardly directed transfer passage. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a third assembly of the present invention with an attached mixer and an outwardly directed transfer passage. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fourth assembly of the present invention with an attached mixer and an outwardly directed transfer passage. It is a cross-sectional view by line VIA-VIA of FIG. FIG. 7 shows the assembly of FIG. 6 in a rotated position. FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along line VIIA-VIIA in FIG. 7.

Claims (13)

  Transfer connected to the mixer inlet opening (11, 12; 28, 29; 45a, 46a; 62a, 63a) and the cartridge outlet (9, 10; 24, 25; 40, 41; 50, 51) on the cartridge side Syringe or cartridge and mixer, characterized in that the passage outlets (7, 8; 26, 27; 40a, 41a, 53a, 54a) are arranged and configured such that the mixer can be exchanged without vacuum An assembly for formulating at least two components comprising:   An adapter (2, 22) having a transfer passage (2a, 2b; 22a, 22b) is arranged between the injector or cartridge (1, 21) and the mixer (4, 23). Item 4. The assembly according to Item 1.   The opening at the adapter outlet (7, 8; 26, 27; 40a, 41a; 53a, 54a) or at the cartridge outlet (9, 10; 24, 25; 40, 41; 50, 51) The angle of the plane of the part and the plane of the opening (11, 12; 28, 29; 45a, 46a, 62a, 63a) of the mixer inlet with respect to the longitudinal axis of the outlet and inlet respectively. The assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it forms an angle of 90 °.   Said adapter (2, 22) has an inlet (9, 10; 40, 41) for each injector or cartridge (1a, 1b; 24, 25), whose outlet (7, 8; 26, 27) 4. Assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the inlet leads to a transfer passage (2a, 2b, 22a, 22b) corresponding to the mixer inlet (11, 12; 28, 29).   The assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the adapter (2) has a cavity (15, 16) adapted to receive a mixer inlet compartment of the mixer (4).   6. Assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the adapter (2) and / or the cavity (15, 16) of the mixer inlet section is conical and / or cylindrical.   The transfer passage outlets (7, 8; 26, 27) of the adapter and their corresponding mixer inlets (11, 12, 28, 29) are arranged at the same height when the mixer is installed. The assembly of claim 2.   A sealing cap (3) having a central plug (17) is provided for sealing the transfer passage (2a, 2b; 40a, 41a) of the adapter (2) or the cartridge (37). The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   8. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer passage outlet (7, 8) of the adapter (2) extends inwardly.   8. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer passage outlet (22a, 22b) of the adapter (22) extends outwards.   The inlet opening (45, 57), wherein the mixer (38, 57) is fixed directly to the cartridge or injector (37, 49) and their edges are arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mixer. 46; 62a, 63a), the cartridge outlets (40, 41; 50, 51) leading to transfer passages (40a, 41a; 53, 54) respectively extending outwards corresponding to the edges of the cartridges; The assembly according to claim 1 or 3.   The mixer (38) has a circumferential inner bead (47) at its cartridge side end that snaps into a groove (48) so that the mixer can be retracted. The assembly of claim 11.   The mixer (38) has a laterally extending inlet hole (62, 63), an inlet passage (64, 65) in its inlet compartment (58), and an insertion cam (66) at its cartridge end. Part (59), the inlet openings (62a, 63a) of the inlet holes slide past the transfer passage outlets (53a, 54a) of the cartridge, and when the plug-in connection is disengaged The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the mixers are sealed to allow vacuumless retraction.

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